on the road to Rocky Mountain national Park

I went to Central City on the way to RMNP because I hadn't been there in a long time. Central City is one of the three Colorado towns that legalized gambling back in the early 90s along with Black Hawk and Cripple Creek.

I got on the road to Rocky Mountain national Park [ RMNP ] about 10 o'clock this morning and got to a campsite about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Of course I stopped a lot along the way. On one of the roads there was an accident that blocked the entire road and we all had to turn around and go back 5 or 6 miles the way we came and take a different road that was in pretty bad shape. If I had been pulling the Arctic Fox it would've been a nightmare.

It was cloudy today and once I got into the mountains it was in the mid-60s so it looks like hot weather is not going to be a problem on this minivacation. The park is more crowded than I thought it was going to be considering the tourist season is supposed to be over. The first campground I stopped at in the park was full but the Ranger was nice enough to call the next campground about 8 or 10 miles down the road and they still had a couple of tent sites available which were first come first serve and they held one for me until I got there.

Even though I'm going to sleep in the truck tonight I still set up the tent so I would have a place to sit in and play on the computer that was more comfortable than sitting in the truck. Also when I'm in serious bear country, which this happens to be, I feel safer sleeping in the truck.

Since I'm up about 9000 feet or so it's supposed to get down in the mid-40s tonight so it will be a good test of how well my bed and sleeping bag works

                   theboondork

I also stopped by Buffalo Bills grave, he's buried in Genesee just west of Denver. There was a big foofaraw when he died in Denver and Cody Wyoming wanted Bill's body to be buried there, and they had a legitimate claim because Buffalo Bill founded the town of Cody, had a ranch and hunting lodge near by. And owned the Irma Hotel in downtown Cody which he had named after his daughter. And had reportedly told the locals that's where he wanted to be buried.

but the city of Denver didn't want to let him go And got one of his relatives to give permission to bury him in the Denver area, after all he was a very famous man and was sure to bring visitors to the area. The townsfolk of Cody weren't too happy about this and threatened to bring every able bodied and armed man to Denver and take Buffalo Bill home. Denver took this threat very seriously and not only covered his grave with tons of concrete but said they would defend it with the Colorado National Guard. Getting word of this the angry mob from Cody repaired to a local saloon and rethought the whole endeavor. notice how the Denver folks added, "At rest here by his request". maybe they felt a little guilty.

The view from Buffalo Bills grave. If you look waaay in the background you can just make out downtown Denver. That's what the smoke from the fires is doing to my view.

Some of the old 1800s buildings in Central City Colorado

My first night camping at Rocky Mountain national Park. It was a little rainy but the tent kept me dry during the day, and I slept in the truck.